Self-centering electric-fixture support.



J. A. VOLK, JR.- SELF OBNTERING ELECTRIC FIXTURE SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, 1910.

Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

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unrrn JOSEPH A. VOLK, JR., OF SOUTH NORWALK, CONNECTICUT.

SELF-CENTERING ELECTRIC-FIXTURE SUPFORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 10, 1911'.

Application filed April 20, 1910. Serial No. 556,571.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. VOLK, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at South Norwalk, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Self-Centering Electric-Fixture Supports, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a fixture support adapted for general use and especially adapted for electric lighting purposes, which shall be simple and inexpensive to make, will permit the carrying tube to be attached or removed without disturbing the frame or cage, and which shall be perfectly self-centering, so that shimming up of the frame or cage upon uneven ceilings is made wholly unnecessary and the support may be used if required to suspend a chandelier or other fixture from a ceiling lying at an incline, as for example a veranda ceiling or the ceiling of a summer pavilion.

With these and other objects in view I have devised the novel self-centering support of which the following description in connection with the accompanying drawing is a specification, reference characters being used to indicate the several parts.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my novel support; Fig. 2 a vertical section thereof; and Fig. 3 is an elevation of a variant form of the invention.

My novel support comprises essentially a frame or cage indicated by 10 and having arms 11 and a curved socket 12 carried by the arms and provided with an opening 13 in one side and a rounded head 15 adapted to oscillate universally in the socket.

14 denotes the carrying tube which is threaded at its upper end to engage the head whose configuration corresponds with the curvature of the socket so that the head may oscillate freely therein, permitting the carrying tube to hang vertically no matter at what angle the frame or cage may be secured.

In practice three arms will be found most desirable for carrying the socket. Each of these arms is provided with a set screw 16 which is adapted to engage the head, the three set screws acting to lock the head at any adjustment. In practice, the upper end of the head is reduced in size and may be provided with one or more angular sides indicated by 17, either of which may be engaged by a set screw so as to prevent the possibility of movement of the head after adjustment, the set screws extending over the lower portion of the head and engaging the reduced portion.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the arms are cast integral with a rim 18 having lugs 19 with screw holes for attachment in place. In the form illustrated in Fig. 3, the upper ends of the arms are recurved inward and have cast integral therewith a hub 20 which has threaded engagement with a tube 21 through which the wires (not shown) pass.

The operation will be obvious from the drawing. The cage or frame of the first form is attached in place by connecting the ring to a ceiling and the second form is attached in place by connecting the hub to a tube. The carrying tube is connected to the head, the set screws being loosened sufficiently to permit the head to oscillate freely in the socket and the carrying tube to assume a vertical position, after which it is locked in place by tightening the set screws up against the head. It will be obvious that in the form illustrated in Fig. 3 it is wholly immaterial whether tube 21 is vertical or not, and in the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 it is Wholly immaterial whether the ceiling to which the ring is attached is level or not or whether it lies in the horizontal or an inclined plane. It will be noted that the upper portion of the space between the arms is amply suflicient to permit the head to be passed between them freely when raised out of engagement with the socket and that the opening in the socket while retaining the head will permit the carrying tube to pass freely, so that the carrying tube with the head thereon may be removed from the frame or cage at any time or replaced therein, without disturbing the frame or ca'ge, by turning the set screws backward far enough to permit the head to be raised above the socket when the carrying rod will pass freely through the opening.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

A fixture support of the character described comprising an attaching ring, arms eXtendwhereby said head is locked in any adjusted ing therefrom, and a socket member carried position. 10 by said armsand having an opening"- in one In testimony whereof I aflix my wsignature side, a head having a rounded portion adaptin presence of two witnesses.

" ed to oscillate in said socket, said head being JOSEPH A. VOLK, JR.

also provided'with a reduced portion; and" VVit-nesses: set screws carrled by sa1d arms and adapted EDWARD B. SMITH, to engage the reduced portion of'sald' head, FRANK T. BRUNDAGE. 

